The Mystery behind ‘Smoke Rings’

You may have noticed smokers trying to grab your attention by their potential of puffing smoke rings and making smoke clouds in air. So, if you thought this skill is pretty cool stuff, then you shouldn’t miss out on our own natural surroundings, which have certainly mastered this time-honored smoking skill.

One such example is a recent happening that took place on 11th April 2013, in Mt Etna, Italy. It’s known for its fiery volcanic eruptions and is continuously been surprising us by its startling smoking knacks. This mountain blows the best smoking rings in nature. They are usually 100-200m across.

Each astounding spectacle of these sizzling peaks will make you think that it all happens by a mere chance; however, every smoke that this mountain emits holds an explanation and has a scientific reasoning which you may not be really aware of. These volcano smoke rings are usually meter-wide rings made up of smoke or vapor. No there isn’t any giant sitting inside struggling and blowing smoke rings of neat shapes, but it’s all because of a scientific exertion that makes things go in its favor. Yes, there is a little bit of “science” everywhere around you!

Watch out this video wherein Mt Etna releases artistic rings in the air. You are going to love it!

The scientific term for these rings is “Vortex Rings.” They are formed when the air is mixed with steam or smoke and is forced out of a small circular or cylindrical opening. Because, there is a narrow drag at the surface of the opening, the air in the center is forced to move faster than the air near the opening, ultimately creating a circular motion. In this way, a doughnut like vortex is formed. The shape of the ring is maintained due to the rotational motion of the air that constantly keeps flowing in the vortex ring. In short, a brief explosion in a confined outlet with just the right velocity allows for that impressive “puffs” eventually expanding into an unbelievable ring. It so reveals how nature’s geometric configuration can actually become so sensible and artistic.

Other Smoking Rings that you may find interesting!!

A smoker performing his usual job of puffing smoke rings in the air.

A dolphin creating exceptional vortex rings through its mouth.

A smoke ring appears over a petrochemical site. This picture shows how smoke is expelled from a chimney, allowing the ring to produce.

This smoke ring was caused by an atomic bomb simulation that had taken place somewhere near a military base.

Smoke ring produced by a controlled explosion on the ground as part of an airshow.

Some unlikely events can also make marvelous visions to remember. A fire in this building took place because of a gas explosion, and made their way to make it a remarkable phenomenon. Luckily, no one was injured!

A condensation cloud forms around an F-14 fighter plane.

A miles-wide ring of smoke loops above a mushroom bank of clouds from a nuclear bomb explosion.

A mighty collision of a cluster of stars with another cluster with their mutual gravitational dance puffs out dark matter and forms a ring shape circle.